Tis the Season

Good day all! Well it's upon us, the Christmas season, and my shop is buzzing. Sales have increased substantially and my family is getting meals prepared on the weekend and frozen. I'm happy, but the family, not so much! :-)

I've done a few new things including joining the EtsyCanada team and advertising at IndieNorth a wonderful site dedicated to promoting Canadian artists. http://www.indienorth.com/

I like to buy local so my thinking floated to, why not try to sell locally. My Etsy store was already established and doing nicely, but my Canadian sales were a small trickle. I found my answer on Twitter, where I met Beth, the wonderfully creative and industrious lady who is the force behind IndieNorth. Beth is a delightful Tweeter and gave me the wonderful hint to add the word 'Canadian' as a tag in my Etsy shop, plus a placed a very reasonably priced ad on the IndieNorth site and my Canadian sales have easily tripled! Thank you IndieNorth and Beth! I recommend all Canadian artists check this site out.

This week, I was contacted by Christina of Akane Designs http://www.akane.etsy.com who has kindly accomplished all the necessary administrative work to set up a new Etsy Team, called EtsyCanada of which I am happy to say, I am now a proud member. I'm looking forward to getting to know more Canadian artists from across the country and promoting our creations together. I'm super excited!!

That said, with sales soaring, I must get back to the studio! 'Tis the Season' and artists around the world are in high production and high promotion mode. Did I mention how much I LOVE IT!!! :-)

Have a great day and remember: Today is the tomorrow you've been waiting for! ENJOY!

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Back in the Studio

Good day! First full day of classes today and my first full day in the studio since September 1! I'm full of design ideas and have already added a few new pieces to my shop!

I thought I'd share with you a wonderful "Wish for You" that my friend @CharmsOfLight posted on her blog! I thought it beautiful and inspiring, which is the type of day I hold in my intention!

Enjoy all!!!

Hello September!

Good day all! I'm back from vacation and having several visitors including our annual Corn Roast! All went well and we had a fabulous time hosting and vacationing. This is my first day back in the studio!

It's hard to believe how much I missed creating! I'd find myself sketching or browsing Etsy just to keep ideas flowing. It took about 2 weeks to stop that behaviour and really start enjoying my vacation. It was nice to leave the computer behind finally. I thoroughly enjoyed playing golf, hanging with my daughter, Kat, and enjoying family and friends. We made many happy memories together!

I've been busy sketching and today is my first full day back in the studio. I've posted a few new things I was able to make this past week late at night. I realized I totally missed blasting music (headphones), creating and burning that midnight oil. I'm getting ready for the Christmas season and have several new lines planned.

The Silver Drop Collection is one, however I couldn't keep myself from posting the pieces because I just adore them!! I love melting metal so much and this collection gives me the opportunity to do so often! As well, and as mentioned previously, there are more reticulated pieces to choose from. I'll be listing a new pair later today, but I'll give you a sneak peek right now! I'm calling them Dripping Reticulated Silver Earrings. I appreciate any feedback - so please don't hesitate to contact.

I'd like to thank everyone for their continuing support! I would like my family, friends and customers to know how much I appreciate your ongoing kindness, understanding and support - it truly moves my heart!

Now, back to the studio - and LOVING it!!

On Vacation

Hello all from the beautiful St. Eugene Resort in Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada! First, I'd like to apologize for not posting before I left that my shop was closed until August 8th, 2009. I was busy filling orders until the last minute, plus trying to get the house, the family and the cats ready for our departure on July 21.

I've tried to stay away from the computer as this IS my vacation and my business is on-line so I needed the 'screen' break. We've been so busy filling our days with events or driving that it hasn't really been an issue.

I'll give you a little overview of our trip thus far. We drove through BC on the #1 Highway stopping at 3 Valley Gap Hotel where we enjoyed a lovely stay exploring the Ghost Town and surrounding areas. Then we spent a couple of days in Calgary visiting with friends, watching football and gearing up for the big shop! We drove up to Edmonton and spent 2 whole days exploring West Edmonton Mall! Kat was in heaven!! It was the best mother/daughter fun including many giggle fits and late night chats. Then we spent some time with old friends and I played golf at the Highlands Golf Club - a lovely course. Then back down to Calgary to explore the Drumheller Badlands, a trail ride in the foothills at the Anchor D Ranch and then the Calgary Zoo. We left Calgary yesterday to head for the resort, where I played golf while Kat caught up with friends on-line. A challenging course with stunning views and good rates. This morning we're off to Grand Forks and a room on the river so we can hike a little, stretch our legs and continue the mother/daughter sharing.

I'm so grateful for this opportunity to spend time with my daughter. It's been more fulfilling than any other vacation I can remember. I can only encourage everyone to make the time to spend with those we love. Life is so precious and these are some memories I, and I hope she, will draw upon for years to come.

Back to my vacation! Cheers!!

I've been Tagged

Wow I've been tagged. Thank you Charms of Light! Now you might even learn a little bit more about me and what makes me tick! :)

The rules of tagging are:

1. Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your invention, add one more question of your own (don't feel obliged as it's quite long already!)

2. Tag eight other people

What is your current obsession?
Melting metals! I can't get enough!!

What is your greatest achievement?
My daughter's smile.

Coffee or Tea?
Neither. Water or beer during Football season!

What’s for dinner?
The Best Chili Ever! It's made with dark beer (I use a chocolate beer), coffee and chocolate. I found it on the internet and my family LOVES it! I use local cubed beef and add shredded veggies, but don't tell the kids!!

What have you just made?
Just my Pretty in Pearls 4mm for a lovely woman - Sophie!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27950242


What are you listening to right now?
The bird's chirping in the early morning!

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Chocolate.

What do you think of the person who tagged you?
She Charms of Light in me to shine! A loving soul who lives in the Now! I admire and love her intuitively.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Swimming in the ocean in the Bahamas!! With my family!

Which language do you want to learn?
More French and Ukrainian. I live in Canada which a is bi-lingual country plus I am Ukrainian by heritage and was a Ukrainian dancer (danced for the Queen of England) for many years. I would like to be more fluent in both.

What’s your favorite quote (for now)?
I'm not going to give you a famous quote, I'm going to add to the 2 provided my own.

"Those who say it cannot be done shouldn't interrupt those doing it" by Sophie Lhoste.

"Smiling turns on the light inside. Shine it for others to see!" by Charms of Light.

"Today is the tomorrow you've been waiting for!" - Sharon Dudka

What is your favorite colour?
Indigo Blue

What is your dream job?
Being a country singing, silversmithing, astrologer. Oh that's what I am?!! Although I do wish I'd play more as I don't have any regular gigs and no longer play with a band. I miss being on stage, but I don't miss the life!

Do you admire anyone’s style?
Genuine, real people who aren't afraid to admit they made a mistake and can manage to find humour in adversity and keep growing. That is a class act!

Describe your personal style?
Chaotic conservative doing it my way! Depends on the day and what way the wind is blowing and where I'm growing.

What are you going to do after this?
House cleaning, check my Etsy Shop and then drive my daughter to a Horse Show.

What is your favorite fruit?
Cherries.

What inspires you?
Love and Light within and without; seeing it in motion! I try to let my creativity happen, then observe it. Truly getting out of my own way!

Your favorite book?
The OverSoul Seven series by Jane Roberts. I highly recommend the read!

Your favourite film?
Nothing comes to mind. I enjoyed working in the theatre as a Stage Manager and even made a film in my Fine Arts school, which I wrote, directed and starred in. I look at them more technically than anything else. Very little out there of substance these days.

Do you collect something?
Life experience. :-) But have managed to acquire a good deal of healing gems.

What is your favorite smell?
The back of a cat's neck has always been soothing to me and uplifting. Many lifetimes in Egypt and one as Keeper of the Cats.

What are you most proud of?
My daughter and family. My personal courage and will to move forward especially in the face of adversity and being able to say I'm sorry.

How many times do you press the snooze button before you get up?
Never. The only times I have ever been late is when I used a darn clock. I don't wear one and set no alarms. I tell myself what time I want to wake up before I go to bed. Incredibly reliable.

Cats or dogs?
One can never have too many cats! I'd have more (currently 2, Al and Star) but hubby is putting his foot down. We do go away quite a bit, so he's right. Darn.

What’s your biggest fashion mistake?
Definitely football jersey's during Football season!! They are so NOT flattering!

Complete the following:
Love is: Light in motion!

What would you like to make next?
Tingling Stars

What's the best piece of advice you have been given?
If you're uncomfortable there's a reason. Your Soul is trying to speak. Go inside, there will be your answer.


Now to tag more people! I'll list them later - like once I figure out how! :-)

MetalRocks Update

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome! I've been a busy artist and have sadly neglected my blog for too long! An update is in order.

I had a marvelous time at the NorthWestern Astrology Conference in Seattle, Washington meeting both new friends and old. The conference was coordinated very well and the people attending had much to share. A very worthwhile and extremely regenerating experience. Plus I sold several pieces of jewellery from my Etsy shop and in person!

Since, I've had my daughter's school year end which meant lots of horse events and ceremony AND I've been working in my studio pretty much non-stop. I've not taken a day off in so long and still didn't seem to have time for my blog. I will not neglect you so long again my friends.

Lately I've been working with some very old ways of making jewellery; reticulation and fusion. The earrings pictured utilize both. Reticulation is the process of melting the surface of metal creating a pattern that appears wrinkled. Fusion is the art of joining metals in liquid form, in other words without solder. I'm having so much fun and will be creating my Christmas lines from these processes. I'm thoroughly enjoying myself in the studio these days!

Please check out my new Silver Drop Collection, which is the hybrid of my MetalRocks and Goddess Tears Collections. Very simple and elegant I so enjoy making these lovely Silver Drops. The pendant shown looks so beautiful that the store who carries my work, Manila Tag http://www.manilatag.com/ purchased both earrings and pendants, always a plus for an artist.

On a personal level, it's football and golfing season, both of which get me outdoors and out of the studio. I find it difficult to leave the studio only because I LOVE what I do, but my family and truth be known, I too, know that a healthy balance is needed. It worked so well that my family who used to complain about my golfing and football obsessions now encourages them!! A marvelous bonus!!

I have a few orders to mail and I'm going golfing! Have a wonderful day and we'll talk soon!!